The Metro Vancouver Mayors’ Council has announced the chair and the vice-chair of a new commission that will study mobility pricing across the region, bringing the region one step closer to a road pricing plan.
The committee chair will be Allan Seckel, a former deputy minister and head of the BC Public Service for the Province of British Columbia and the current CEO of Doctors of B.C.
Joy MacPhail will serve as the commission’s vice-chair. MacPhail was a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for 14 years and served as the head of the opposition for four years.
The commission has been appointed to study ways to evaluate mobility pricing around Metro Vancouver. Its objectives are to reduce road congestion, devise a bridge-tolling strategy and support transportation investment. It is scheduled to submit its recommendations and findings to TransLink and the mayors’ council by early 2018.
The Metro Vancouver mayors’ council is TransLink’s governing body and consists of mayors from the 21 municipalities within the region, including Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson. The council has to approve all TransLink transportation plans, which include all major capital projects, regional funding and limits on borrowing. As well, it appoints members of the TransLink board of directors.
The announcement comes a day after TransLink announced a fare increase to take effect July 1. Single-use adult fares will increase by 10 cents, single-use concession fares will increase by five cents, day passes will increase by 25 cents and monthly pass fares will increase by amounts between $1 and $2, depending on the zone type.
@EmmaHampelBIV
